Role of yoga and mindfulness in severe mental illnesses: A narrative review

Abstract

Background:Yoga has its origin from the ancient times. It is an integration of mind, body, and soul. Besides, mindfulness emphasizes focused awareness and accepting the internal experiences without being judgemental. These techniques offer a trending new dimension of treatment in various psychiatric disorders.Aims:We aimed to review the studies on the efficacy of yoga and mindfulness as a treatment modality in severe mental illnesses (SMIs). SMI includes schizophrenia, major depressive disorder (MDD), and bipolar disorder (BD).Methods:We conducted a literature search using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library with the search terms “yoga,” “meditation,” “breathing exercises,” “mindfulness,” “schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders,” “depressive disorder,” and “bipolar disorder” for the last 10-year period. We also included relevant articles from the cross-references.Results:We found that asanas and pranayama are the most commonly studied forms of yoga for schizophrenia. These studies found a reduction in general psychopathology ratings and an improvement in cognition and functioning. Some studies also found modest benefits in negative and positive symptoms. Mindfulness has not been extensively tried, but the available evidence has shown benefits in improving psychotic symptoms, improving level of functioning, and affect regulation. In MDD, both yoga and mindfulness have demonstrated significant benefit in reducing the severity of depressive symptoms. There is very sparse data with respect to BD.Conclusion:Both yoga and mindfulness interventions appear to be useful as an adjunct in the treatment of SMI. Studies have shown improvement in the psychopathology, anxiety, cognition, and functioning of patients with schizophrenia. Similarly, both the techniques have been established as an effective adjuvant in MDD. However, more rigorously designed and larger trials may be necessary, specifically for BD.

Effect of yoga on pulse rate variability measured from a venous pressure waveform

“…Several works have studied the role of yoga in the overall health and a healthy lifestyle [15], [4], [5]. Also, yoga has been proposed in severe mental illnesses: it was found a reduction in general psychopathology ratings and an improvement in cognition and functioning in schizophrenic patients, and a significant benefit in reducing the severity of depressive symptoms [16]. In those studies which focus on the autonomic function, they found an increase in parasympathetic activity, a decrease in sympathetic activity and an overall increase heart rate variability [4].…”

Yoga for psychiatric disorders: from fad to evidence-based intervention?

“…2 A recent review of yoga and mindfulness in severe mental illness found reasonable evidence for symptom reduction in psychosis and depression, although evidence is sparse for bipolar disorder. 3 Two recent studies reported successful treatment of major depression using yoga as the only treatment (details of these and the other trials mentioned in this editorial are available from the author on request). An 8-week RCT of a hatha yoga intervention as monotherapy for mild-to-moderate major depression compared with attention-control education sessions found that the yoga participants ( n = 20) had significantly greater decline in depression scores than the control group ( n = 18) and more of them achieved remission.…”

Role of Yoga for People Suffering from Schizophrenia in India

“…Care has not been broadly attempted, yet the accessible proof has appeared in improving crazy manifestations, improving dimension of working, and influence guideline. 7 The Laughter Yoga (LY) assemble had factually more noteworthy abatements in gloom and upgrades in psychological wellness related personal satisfaction. 6 The normal routine with regards to Yoga can be considered as a viable intercession in improving physical (diminishes pulse, circulatory strain, blood glucose, oxidative harm, exhaustion, shortcoming, dread of fall, and improve pulse fluctuation, baroreflex affectability, insulin affectability, physical capacities, portability, adaptability, and urinary incontinence), mental (lessens misery, uneasiness), passionate (decreases outrage, stress, pressure and improve self-adequacy), social (improve life fulfilment), and essential (improved imperativeness) planes of old people, offering a superior nature of rest and personal satisfaction.…”